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Brandon Lee Mason faces charges of attempted murder after his girlfriend was found with serious stab wounds Tuesday morning in Chula Vista. As NBC 7’s Megan Tevrizian explains, this is not the first time the suspect has been accused of domestic violence. (Published Tuesday, Mar 11, 2014)

Updated at 1:38 PM PDT on Wednesday, Jun 25, 2014

In a jaw-dropping confession that came too late, an alleged victim recanted her story about her boyfriend stabbing her in the shower, however days later, the accused suspect fatally injured himself while in jail.

In March, Chula Vista residents discovered Britney Vinck naked and bleeding on a lawn in front of the Park Palomar Apartments on Palomar Street. Vinck told witnesses she had been stabbed in the chest while showering moments after admitting to her boyfriend that she had been unfaithful.

The woman’s boyfriend, Brandon Mason, was arrested in connection with the stabbing hours later at a shopping center on Birch Road in Eastlake. Mason had a criminal history, and had just been released from jail three days earlier. His record included a conviction for burglary in 2012 and charges of domestic violence and vandalism.

However, police later learned Mason was not responsible for this latest crime, as Vinck recanted her story, more than one month after the incident.

NBC 7 obtained a notarized letter signed by Vinck and dated on April 22 claiming Mason was innocent. The letter claimed Vinck was high and physically fought with Mason the night of the incident. When he tried to break up with her, the document notes she stabbed herself, hoping Mason would come to her aid.

Police did not know these details at the time of Mason’s arrest. He was booked into jail, where he stayed for more than a month until he became so distraught that he tried to commit suicide by hanging on April 25.

Mason was rushed to a local hospital, but eventually succumbed to his wounds.

His friend, Chrissy Hie, told NBC 7 she thinks Mason saw death as his only way out of jail.

“I believe he didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, that he was going down for something he didn’t do,” said Hie.

Neighbors rushed to help Vinck that night in May, including National Guard medic Leonardo Becerra, who treated the woman while waiting for emergency crews to arrive. She was rushed to a local hospital.

Some residents admitted the stabbing seemed odd from the start, but just wanted to help their neighbor in need.

“I did find it strange [that] the weapon was next to her and she was basically holding it,” said Joselyn Hernandez.

Ed. Note: In an update to this original article, court documents show the woman who was treated for stab wounds later recanted the accusations made against her boyfriend. The boyfriend later died from self-inflicted wounds suffered while in police custody.